Oâ€™Donnell returned after missing games 2-4 of the Veesâ€™ first round series with Quesnel, but Penticton was shocked at home in Game 1 vs. Salmon Arm, 3-1. Penticton outshot the Silverbacks 41-22, but was stymied by goaltender Kris Moore (undrafted). Game 2 is tonight (Wednesday) in Penticton.

Ashton had two assists in the first period to help TC to an early 2-0 lead, but the Ams had to fight back with three third period goals, including one in the last minute, to win the game. Ashton has a four game multipoint streak going in which heâ€™s scored 10 total points. He has 13 points in his last seven games. He was originally listed with two goals and an assist in his last game against Vancouver, but that has been changed to one goal and three assists. Ashtonâ€™s career high for goals in a season in 30.

Ouch. While Red Deer is second overall in the league, losing on home ice 7-0 is embarrassing any way you cut it. The Cougars, who were once comfortably in the playoff picture, are now tied for the eighth and final spot in the West at 62 points. They do have a game in hand on Kamloops, with whom they are tied, but Seattle is at 59 points and has a game in hand on Prince George. The Cougars are 1-8-0-1 in their last 10 games and need to turn things around. As captain of his home town team, thereâ€™s no doubt Connolly doesnâ€™t want to go out like this. Likely 2011 top-3 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and three assists Tuesday for Red Deer.

Ex-NHLers Karel Rachunek and Josef Vasicek each had 1 goal and 1 assist to lead Yaroslavl to a 4-2 Game One victory over Dynamo Riga. Ex-Lightning forward Robert Petrovicky had a goal in the match for Riga.

The Lightning had this game won twice, only to have it snatched away from them. The first was on what was really a lucky stick save by Brayden Holtby reaching back on a Simon Gagne bid at an open net. The second was a disallowed goal by Vincent Lecavalier that was absolute baloney. I've seen teams get away with a lot worse than the contact Martin St. Louis made with his skate after being tripped through the crease. So, it would be easy to feel like the Lightning were robbed, but the refs didn't make the Lightning go out with a whimper in overtime and the shootout. It was a weak effort to close a game where the team, in general, really rose to the occasion. The Devils, Bruins, and this game were really unfortunate. This team could very easily have taken all 6 possible points in those games, rather than just 1.

The Lightning are 2 points back of Washington in the division now with 1 game in hand. This tough bit of schedule ends with the Blackhawks, who are white hot, before the opposition gets a little easier (on paper).

Mattias Ritola played 4:58.

Blair Jones played 6:20 with 1 shot, 1 hit, and 1 blocked shot.

The young guys simply weren't going to play much in a game of this magnitude.

Mullin was scoreless for the second straight game, but the Force got the win against the USA development team. At 60 points, Fargo is tied for third in the Western Conference with Sioux Falls, who has a game in hand on Fargo. The Force is one point out of second and five points out of first, but the teams in front of them, Omaha and Dubuque, have games in hand on Fargo. The Force have 11 games left in the season.

Panik remains out with a sprained ankle. He is expected to return this week. Guelph has clinched a playoff spot and is tied with London for seventh. The key will be to avoid top-seeded Owen Sound or Kitchener in the first round. The Storm has five games left.

Ashton is now within one goal of his career high for a season, set two years ago with Lethbridge in 70 games. He has already set career highs for assists and points. Sunday night Ashton scored once in the first period and again on the power play late in the third to give the Ams a big win in one of the WHLâ€™s toughest barns. TC is clinched a playoff spot and currently sit in fourth in the West, comfortably ahead of Vancouver in fifth and well behind Spokane in third. TC has eight games left.

Norfolk has 2 more 3-games-in-3-nights sets this season, so unless Cedrick Desjardins comes back from injury, Norfolk probably has a couple of more starts left for Janus.

5th place Binghamton closes to within 2 points of the Admirals and they hold 1 game in hand in the East Division playoff race. Norfolk also lost ground to Charlotte, which beat Manchester today. The team is now 3 points back of the Checkers with 2 games in hand. In the crossover, Norfolk holds a 7 point lead on Worcester.

17 games remain in the regular season. Norfolk draws Binghamton again at The Scope on Wednesday and again on Friday.

Connolly was held scoreless as Prince George dropped their second straight to Spokane in as many nights. Possible future Lightning prospect Tyler Johnson of Spokane, who has been reported to be signing a contract with the Lightning in the next day or two, had a goal Saturday for the Chiefs, his league-leading 48th.

The Blades snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over South Carolina at home. Goalie, Bobby Geopfert stopped 28 shots for the shutout. Florida is at home next Saturday and Sunday for two games with Greenville.

Vermont ended their regular season with a win over UMASS-Lowell as Marshall picked up a point for the second straight game since coming back from injury. The Catamounts secured the No. 7 seed in the Hockey East tournament, they will face No. 2 seed New Hampshire next weekend in the opening round.

Dominic Moore was outstanding. Sean Bergenheim was outstanding. Most of the rest you could load in a cannon and shoot to the moon for the way they played for the first 2 periods tonight. The silver lining was a well played third period where they outshot Montreal 15-5, but it shouldn't take falling behind 3 goals to find an extra gear.

Marc-Andre Bergeron needs to sit. Someone needs to pay for how this PP is playing right now.

Mattias Ritola was -1 with 3 shots and 2 hits in 12:23. He's come back from Norfolk with a lot more tenacity in the physical game. I hope he keeps it up. With injuries, the more depth the Lightning have in the playoffs the better.